Surviving/Thriving Amid COVID-19: Dysfunctional Quilt Shop Not Dysfunctional At All!

When the Dysfunctional Quilt Shop opened nearly fifteen years ago on Sowden Lane in Whitehall, it was a small garage in Chris Proffer's backyard. Now, it is a booming business with an expansion added about five years ago and loyal customers that travel from around the state (and country!) to visit.

On Saturday, March 20th the shop hosted its annual Customer Appreciation March Madness sale and the shop couldn't have been more packed. At 9:30 a.m. customers were wrapped around the perimeter of the building, waiting to have their treasures cut and measured.

"After Christmas I started getting lots of calls asking whether or not we were having the sale. After so many calls, I couldn't say no," Proffer said.

During COVID-19 lockdown Proffer had to take a closer look at her store and see how to manage the pandemic storm. With everyone sewing like crazy, she said, she took to long-arming quilts for customers.

"But all the customers that were here on Saturday said they were sick and tired of being in their houses and had to get out and about." Over 150 quilters visited the shop between 10am and 5pm for the sale.

"With a store name like mine, it's goofy - people come in and say "I just had to see what a Dysfunctional Quilter was" and I say "Hi!" Proffer said with a laugh.